Trap.



F. SMITH TRAP. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1912.

Patented May 20, 1913.

I vi /bheooeo I Q X Q. 73 74 011,7

1 T b all whom it may concern.

' citizen of the United States, residing at vide improved means for mounting and sup 5 to the lower edge of the swinging hinged FRANKLIN SMITI-LOF DALLAS, IOWA.

. TRAP.

Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 3, 1912. Serial No. 713,127.

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN SMrrn, a

Dallas, in the county of Marion and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Traps, of which the following is a specificatiom'reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to traps and has for its' object to provide a device of this character which can be utilized as an animal trap or a trap for flies, roaches orothen insects.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a series of current receiving plates suitably insulated from each other. and! wired to the'positive and negative polesof an electric circuit-whereby, when the animal or insect treads upon said plates, its body will be immediately charged with the electric current, resulting in instantaneous death.

Another object of the invention is to proporting the electrically charged series of plates within a suitable frame whereby the plates of the, positive and negative poles will be completely insulated or segregated from each other.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a trap of the above character which -is eflicient and reliable in use, may be inexpensively manufactured and will occupy a minimum of space.

Vt ith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the claim and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trap embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom .plan view thereof and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal'section.

Referring in'detail to the drawing, 5 designates a rectangular frame in one end of which an outwardly opening hinged door 6 is arranged. Upon the side walls of the frame 5, the inclined glass plates 7 are secured in any preferred manner, said plates extending from the upper end of the rear wall of the frame door 6. Upon the upper edges of these glass plates 7, a metal plate 8 is mounted and secured, said glass plates insulating the same from the metallic walls of the frame 5. From the forwardedge of the plate 8 to the front edges of the side walls of the frame, the upper edges. of the glass plates 7 are obtusely inclinedwith relation to the remaining upper edge portions thereof as PatentedMay 20.19155.

indicated at 11. To the inner surface of the glass plates 7 contiguous to these inclined edges '11, the metal bars 12. and 13 are secured. The metal bar or strip 12 is con. nected to thepositive pole of an, electric circuit by means of the wire 14: while the bar 13 is connected tothe negative pole of the clrcuit by means of the wire 15. Between the metal bars 12 and 13, a plurality of parallel metal plates 16 are arranged, said plates being insulated from each other by means of rubber or suitable fiber indicated at 17, thus forming a grid, the surface of which is disposed in a plane which is inelined obtusely with relation to the upper surface of the metal plate 8. It will be ob served that the opposite ends of alternate plates 16 are in contact with the bars 12 and 13 respectively so that every other one of the plates 16 is charged with the negative current while the remaining plates receive the positive current. Thus when the animal or insect treads upon these charged plates, the circuit will be closed and the current passed through its body. After the animal or insect has thus been'killed, its body will slide or roll down the inclined surface formed by the plates 16 and move outwardly under the swinging door 6.. If desired, a hook 18 may be'secured to the transverse frame bar to which the upper edge of the door 6 is hinged to receive a suitable bait to attract the animals or insects. The positive and negative wires 14 and 15 are connected to a threaded plug (not shown) which is adapted to be screwed into the lamp socket of an electric lighting circuit.

'From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner of operation. of

my improved trap will be clearly understood. It will, of course, be appreciated that the same may be made in various sizes and the relative angular disposition of the ceiving plate varied as circumstances may segmental grind and the negative current re- I require. Owing to the fact that but few ele-" ments are employed in the construction of the device it will be appreciated that the same can be manufactured at's'mall cost and is also extremely durable in use. The trap is also highly eiiicient and reliable and may be successfully employed in the trappingv and killing-of varlous species of animals and insects.

While I have shown the preferred form and arrangement of the various parts, it

plate mounted upon said glass plates a grid mounted upon said glass plates and disposed at an obtuse inclination to said plate, said grid consisting of parallel side bars and a plurality of parallel plates arranged between said side bars, the ends of the alternate plates contacting with the respective side bars, insulating strips disposed between the adjacent plates, and positive and. negative current conducting wires connected to said metallic side bars.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in thepresence of two witnesses.

FRANKLIN SMITH.

Witnesses: FLoYo s'ro'r'rs, FRANK STEVENSON. 

